| dbo:abstract |
Anthony James Morabito (January 12, 1910 – October 27, 1957) was the founder of the San Francisco 49ers. Following his graduation from the University of Santa Clara he had a moderately successful lumber hauling business in San Francisco, California during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He realized, however, that air travel would make coast-to-coast NFL rivalries feasible. In 1944, after several years of his expansion applications being rejected by the NFL, Morabito led a visit to the NFL in Chicago. His meeting was presided over by Elmer Layden, the NFL commissioner and one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. Layden was dismissive of Morabito's requests. Following that meeting, Morabito and his partners walked across the street to see Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune who was trying to organize a rival league, the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). On June 6, 1944, the first meeting of the AAFC was held in St. Louis. Morabito agreed to form a franchise in San Francisco, with the AAFC set to start play after the end of the war. Tony, his brother Victor P. Morabito, and his partners in the Lumber Terminals of San Francisco, Allen E. Sorrell and Ernest J. Turre, became the founding owners of the soon to be San Francisco 49ers. Al Ruffo did the legal work while serving as the assistant coach to head coach Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw. Santa Clara's famous "Silver Fox", Shaw was paid the then fabulous sum of $25,000. The team eventually played their first game in San Francisco's Balboa Park on August 24, 1946. The AAFC folded at the end of the 1949 season and three of its teams, including the 49ers, joined the NFL for the 1950 season. Morabito was seen as controversial by some, but throughout his tenure, the players supported him. (en) |
| rdfs:comment |
Anthony James Morabito (January 12, 1910 – October 27, 1957) was the founder of the San Francisco 49ers. Following his graduation from the University of Santa Clara he had a moderately successful lumber hauling business in San Francisco, California during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He realized, however, that air travel would make coast-to-coast NFL rivalries feasible. In 1944, after several years of his expansion applications being rejected by the NFL, Morabito led a visit to the NFL in Chicago. His meeting was presided over by Elmer Layden, the NFL commissioner and one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. Layden was dismissive of Morabito's requests. (en) |
